It is a little corner of paradise on the borders of Oise and Seine-Maritime.
A hectare of nature where sustainable development is transmitted through the historical period of the High Middle Ages.
This is the position taken by Martine Belletante, president of the association Listening to nature.
Based in Blargies since 1997, she chose to use her passion for history to create a “medieval adventure” in the footsteps of Dagobert and Charlemagne.
Objective: to raise awareness of ecology.
“It was first and foremost an association for education in sustainable development,” she recalls.
We have launched various actions which have not worked.
So with her husband, Marc, she has the idea of associating a historical period with her farm.
In 2017, the site welcomed its first school groups, "which hit the ground running", before launching into the general public last year.
Spells and remedies are hidden in the vegetable garden
"It's a pretext for our events, but it was not chosen at random," warns Martine.
It fit perfectly with what we wanted to defend.
At that time, biodiversity was rich and, contrary to popular belief, the hygiene of life was much more developed than what we think.
"
After putting on a costume, if you wish, and a first part devoted to an exhibition, allowing to recall the bases of the Middle Ages, all the richness of the site resides in the hectare of garden which shelters thousands of plants and a hundred animals, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits or chickens.
On a circuit decorated with small games, medieval decorations and explanatory panels recalling the various activities of the time, are spread out the nine vegetable gardens of Martine.
Herbs, vegetables, fruit trees, medicinal plants, and even the witch's vegetable garden.
“Everything is deadly here, we are not laughing, warns the guide, dressed in her period costume.
But I assure you, there are also the antidotes!
"
Sheep shearing and collective kitchen
And even some varieties specific to the High Middle Ages, such as the corm tree, a fruit tree which gives corms, small pears, today declared an endangered species.
“I may be the only one in the department to have one.
"A return to nature for the one who says she is" born with birds "but who has had a completely different professional life.
An engineer trained at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon, specializing in nuclear power, Martine Belletante worked for more than twenty years at EDF.
“I was almost responsible for plant safety,” she says.
I participated in the major ecological developments in the sector but some things disappointed me, so I returned to my first love.
"
On a hectare of garden, the site is home to thousands of plants and a hundred animals, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits and chickens.
Simon Gourru
Today, she reigns over her hectare of garden where, inexhaustible in anecdotes, she guides the public between medieval practices and permaculture.
At the exit of the garden, a room brings together all the activities developed by the association during its work in schools.
“They spend the day, help shearing the sheep, cook with me,” explains Martine.
If the youngest are above all hooked by the knighthood aspect, this allows Martine to get her message across.
“Here, children play and parents learn,” she boasts.
We are above all passionate, what we like is sharing.
And even on a voluntary basis.
Because after the Covid crisis, which has financially impacted many households, Martine and Marc have decided to pay the visit to the hat.
Contact:
www.al-ecoute-de-la-nature.com
or 06.10.03.74.19.
